Chapter 73: The Path Of The Optimized
Finding the Grand Library was very straightforward. Zephyr had only needed to ask around a few times before getting to the place. After getting there though... he only had one word. Magnificent.
Again, it struck him that this was a city of rebels essentially, but yet, they still had the time to build such amazing structures over multiple generations. Was the Freehold Sanctuary really that hard to find? Surely, over the years, at least one or two spies should’ve been able to infiltrate the Sanctuary. It made him think there was most likely more to this place than meets the eye.
The Grand Library fully deserved to have that "Grand" title in its name. It was built right into the head of the central statue around which all the platforms floated. Zephyr never knew the head was hollow, so imagine his surprise when he was told by a friendly stranger that the Grand Library was ’in the head of the statue.’ He’d gotten to the topmost platform on the level where he, Rita and Veronica had arrived, but still had to follow another route up to the head since there weren’t any more platforms above.
The path inside the statue to the library was moderately spacious. It could at least hold four people walking side by side. The climb wasn’t long from there, but he and a few others that were also headed to the library were stopped just at the bottom of the library— being the entrance. After they were given the standard checks, they were let through, climbing up the last few steps that revealed the glory of the library to them.
Books. Thousands of them lined the inner walls of the statue’s head, the seven orifices serving as massive windows to let in natural light, bridges criss-crossed on every level all the way up to the top. It could almost be described as chaotic, but there was a sense of structure to it. Contained. It made the place look busy, without being rowdy, adding a sense of massiveness to the Library, giving it that ’Grand’ feel.
Zephyr took a moment to take in the view, enthralled by what he was seeing.
"First time here?" A young lady— one of those who entered along with him, asked.
"Yeah," Zephyr whispered. "It’s amazing."
The young lady straightened a little, a feeling of immense pride rising within her as she saw that the city’s library had so clearly impressed the newcomer. "I’ve gotten used to it, but every now and then it still gets me to stop and marvel in wonder," she gazed at the grandness of the library and the wide array of books contained within.
The lady sighed lightly then muttered a greeting to Zephyr as she went on her way.